The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-12-10
THE DRUMMER BOY.
" Am But Captain; You Are a
Hero"

On the first day Of the battle Of
Custozza, July u, 1913, about sixty
soldiers belonging 10 one Of the Italian
infantry regiments, having been sent
TO occupy an isolated house on height,
were unexpectedly attacked by two
companies Of Austrans, who, firing on
them from different points, barely gave
them time TO take refuge in the house
and hastily barricadc the doors, leaving
several dead and wounded in the fields.
After barricading the doors the Italian
soldiers hastily ran To- the windows on
the first floor, and began 10 pour a
steady fire into the assailants, who
were gradually advancing in a semi
circle and replying vigorously.
The sixty Italians were commanded
by two subatcrns and n Captain. n tall
old fellow, lean and severe, with white
hair and mustachcs; with them there
was Sandman drummer boy, boy
not much more than fourteen years
old, and who scarcely appeared TO be
twelve; he was small, with IN olive
brown face, and two sparkling little
deep black eyes. The Captain was di-
rectng the defense from window on
the first floor, while the scmi-circlo Of
the enemy kept closing up
All at once, the Captain, who until
then had been impossible, was seen TO
show signs Of uncasincss and 10 stride
out of the room followed by sergeant.
About three minutes aftcrward the
sergeant came running back and called
the drummer boy, bcckoning him TO
follow. The boy ran after him up n
wooden staircase and went with him
into an empty garrct, where he saw the
Captain, who was writing with pencil
on n sheet of paper, leaning against
the window, with u woll-ropo on the
floor Mt his feet
The Captain folded the paper, and,
looking with his cold, grayish eyes, be-
fore which all the soldiers tremblcd,
into the eyes of the boy, said abruptly;
drummer boyl" The drummer boy
saluted. The Captain said: You've
got grit" Tho boys eyes lighted up.
"Yes, Captain" he answered.
Look down there" said the Cap7
tain, pushing him to the window. "in
the plain, near the houses of Villa
franca, where there is glittcring Of
bayoncts. Those are our friends, stand
ing idle. Take this note, catch hold of
the rope, slide down from the window,
run down the hill, go through the
fields, reach our friends and give the
note to tho first officer you see. Chuck
away your belt and knapsack." "
The boy took of his belt and KNAPP
sack and put the note into his breast
pocket; the sergeant throw out the rope
and grasped one end of it with both
hands; the Captain helped the boy pass
backward through the little window,
"Takc care he said to him; "thc
safety of the detachment depends on
your courage and on your legs"
Trust me, Captain, replied the
drummer boy, swinging himself out.
"Stoop rs you 90 down" said the
Captain again, helping the sergeant to
hold the rope
"Ncvcr fear"
"God help YOU
In few moments tho boy was on tho
ground; the sergeant drew up the ropo
and disappeared; the Captain sprong to
the window and saw tho boy flying
down the hill.
He was already hoping that he had
succeeded In escaping unobserved when
five or six little clouds of dust which
rose from the ground both before and
behind the boy warned him that he had
been seen by the Austrians, who were
firing at him from the top of the hill,
Those little clouds were earth thrown
up bv the bullets But the boy con-
tinucd to run ut brcakucck pace. All
At once he fell.
"Killcdr' roarcd the Captain, biting
his fist. But he had scarcely said the
word when he saw the boy get up.
"Ah. only fall!' he said to himself,
and brcathcd again. In fact the boy
began To run again rs fast rs he could
but he limped. "A sprained ankle.
thought the Captain.
The boy ran swiftly for awhile, then
limped and slackencd his pace, and
then broke into run again, but hC
seemed to become moro and moro IA
tigucd, and every littlo while stumbled
and paused for moment.
perhaps he has been hit by n glanc.
ing bullet" thought the Captain, ant
he shudderingly watched all his move
mcnts and encouraged him and spok,
TO him, rs IL the boy could hear him
he measured necessarily. with kcer
eyes. the distance interposing between
the running boy and the glittering o
arms which he saw down there in tn,
plain In the midst of the wheat fields
gilded Wv the sun. And meanwhile h,
heard the whistliug and the noise o
the bullets In the rooms below, the i'm
perlous and angry cries Of the officer:
and sergeants, the groans of tho wound.
ed, and the crashing of furniture and
plaster "Upl couragor' he cried. fol.
lowing with his gaze the distant boy.
Forward runl He has stopped,
curse himl Ali he is running again. /"
An officer came, out of breath. 70
say that the enemy. without ceasinC
their fire. were waving a white flag as
n summons 10 surrender.
Don't answerr' he cried. without
removing his eyes from the boy, who